Crude oil and natural gas often coexist in reservoirs, leading to natural gas flaring when oil is extracted. This process not only wastes energy but also contributes significantly to global methane emissions. Despite initiatives like the Zero Routine Flaring by 2030, flaring volumes remain high, particularly in nine major countries responsible for the majority.
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change and ozone depletion, with human activities significantly increasing its emissions since the 1970s. Key sources include agricultural practices, livestock manure, and industrial emissions. Action is necessary across sectors to mitigate N2O emissions and improve nutrient management strategies.
Anthropogenic black carbon, or soot, arises from incomplete combustion of organic materials, significantly impacting climate change and public health. It causes global warming, degrades air quality, and leads to various health issues. Major contributors include residential fuel usage and transportation emissions. Reducing black carbon relies on cleaner fuel access and improved combustion technologies.
Nuclear power plants have a nameplate capacity of about 390 gigawatts and supply 10% of the world’s electricity. The United States, Russia, France, Japan, South Korea, and China account for 36% of global capacity. Capacity additions have declined due to accidents, rising costs, public opposition, and the increasing attractiveness of renewable power generation.
The global nuclear power industry has experienced significant shifts since its post-WWII expansion, with a sharp decline in new reactor starts from the 1990s onwards. More recently, some countries have sought to replace fossil fuels with nuclear power to address emissions and energy security. However, challenges remain in demonstrating the promised benefits of new reactor designs.
The construction of new nuclear power plants reflects changing electricity demand and technology competitiveness. Despite industry and government support, nuclear power faces challenges such as cost-competitiveness and safety concerns, leading to extended construction times. While some advocate for its expansion as vital for clean energy transition, others question its necessity due to declining global electricity share and the rise of cheaper renewables.
In recent years, 15 to 20% of global coal consumption came from traded coal. The import and export of coal rely on specialized infrastructure known as coal terminals, located near mines or strategic coastal areas. These facilities facilitate the efficient transportation of coal between various modes like ships, trains, and trucks.
The construction of nuclear reactors peaked in the 1970s, leading to an aging global reactor fleet. The push to relicense these aging reactors has economic and energy security benefits, but questions remain about safety. More data and transparency are needed for informed decision-making in the face of the world’s aging nuclear fleet.
Electricity plays a crucial role in modern society, constituting 21% of energy use in the EU in 2022 and expected to grow due to initiatives in transportation and heating. The 220 largest electricity companies globally represent about 3% of the total market cap of publicly traded companies. This industry is highly concentrated, with just five companies holding 20% of the market cap.
Hydropower, a pioneer in grid-scale electricity generation since the late 19th century, now provides 17% of global electricity, surpassing nuclear, wind, solar, bioenergy, and geothermal combined. While the US and Europe have well-established capacity with limited room for expansion, China, India, Africa, and South America are developing new projects to meet rising electricity demand and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.